Shoe construction



1935- A. G. EICHHORN SHOE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 8, 1952 Patented I 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ,SHOE oous'rnuc'rion August G. Eichhorn, St. Louis, Mo., assignor, bymesne assignments, to PermaCorporatlon, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 8, 1932, Serial No. 603,995 16 Claims. 36 24.

This invention relates to foot apparel manufacture and more particularly to 'the heel construction thereof.

Foot apparel, as now manufactured, has the 5 heel secured to the heel seat of the shoe by means of nails, by means of screws and even by bolts,

and in either instance the breakage of wooden heels, such as are used on womens shoes, is considerable, it slows up production and results in unnecessary expense to this operation in themanufacture of shoes. q

It is therefore one of the primary objects of this invention to providenovel means fixed to the heel seat of a shoe and provided with means receivable in recesses formed in the base of the vheel, and also, the provision of means carried by the heel and engaging the means receivable in the heel recesses for securely holding the heel to the heel seatof the shoe by drawing the baseof the heel seat intotight contact with the heel seat of the shoe and holding it there. 7

Another salient object of the invention is to' provide novel means for detachably securing a heel to the heel seat of a shoe.

A further object of the invention is to' provide the heel seat of foot apparel, such as shoes, with a plate by means of suitable fasteng ing devices and with portions of the plate extending into heel recesses formed in the base ofthe [3- heel where such plate portions are fastened by independent means for securely locking the. heel 'to the heel seat of the shoe.

A further object of the invention is generally to improve the heel construction of foot aprel. i A still further object ofthe invention isthe provision ofa heel construction for shoes, which possesses advantages in point of simplicity,- eliminatesbreakage of wooden heels in the application thereof to the heel seats of shoes, and, at the same time proves itself comparatively inexpensive in the cost of manufacture and especially so in the application of the heel to the shoe.

With the above and other objects in view,'the invention consists in the novel application of heels to shoes, construction, arrangements, combinations and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illusdo in the accompanying drawing, in which "drawing:

'- Fig'. 11s a view of the heel seat portion of a seat portion of a shoewith the heel attaching plate fixed thereto.

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the manner 'of securing a heel to the heel seat of a shoe and em-. bodies the features of this invention. 5

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a shoe heel illustrating the recesses formed in the base thereof.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the heel attaching plate.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the heel attach- 1o ing plate, with a portion thereof broken away.

While this invention relates generally to foot apparel, and particularly to an improved heel construction for shoes, the same has been illustrated as including a wooden heel for ladies l5 shoes, but it is to be understood that the same is applicable to men's children's shoes, as well.

-In the drawing, A designates a part of the heel portion of a shoe, and includes the outsole B, the insole C, and the heel seat. of the shoe which is 0 formed by the trimmed heel portion D ofthe outsole 3- to reduce its thickness and the turned under portions of the upper, the counter and the lining of the shoe, which is designated generally as E, and, which is like heel seats in the present 2 shoe construction, excepting that the heel portion of the outsole in this case fills the entire heel seat cavity of the shoe.

In carrying out the aim of the present inven--, tion, a suitable plate I is employed, preferably metallic. The plate I is applied to the trimmed heel portion D, of the outsole B and to the marginal edge of the turned under edge portion E of the heel seat of the shoe. The plate I has the general outline of the heel seat of the shoe and 35 shaped to the contour thereof by being longitudinally, and transversely curved, as shown in Figs.

5 and 6, and it is secured to the heel seat of the shoe by means of suitable fastening devices 2,

which fastening devices, as shown, are integral nated 3 and l are formed on the plate I and (ll-F rected downwardly therefrom at approximately a right angle thereto. The keepers orears I and I are spaced a. suitable distance apart from each other and each is provided with a lock pin opening l..'1'heapertur edkeepersorears3and4 The usual base or heel seat surface I of the heel 6 is provided with a plurality of transversely disposed narrow slotted relatively shallow recesses designated 8 and 9, and-these recesses enter the heel a distance equal, or better than the lengths of the keepers 3 and 4, respectively, of the plate I. The recesses 8 and 9 of the heel 8 are of such dimensions as to cause the keepers 3 and l to engage the walls thereof when the heel 6 is applied to the heel seat of the shoe, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The heel 8 is provided with a bore or opening of uniform dimension throughout its length II, which opening is directed into the heel from the breast ii thereof a short distance below the heel seat surface 1 thereof. The opening II is so positioned that when the heel is applied with the desired pressure to the heel seat of the shoe. that it will register with the openings I in the keepers or ears 3 and l, and at which time a suitable lock-pin I2 is forced into the heel opening ii so as to pass through and'fricticmally engage in the openings 5 of the plate ears I and 9 for holding the heel in a locked position on the heel seat of the shoe and against displacement thereon.

When the heeli is applied, in the manner shown, to the heel seat of the shoe, the heel is securely held to the'heel seat of the shoe. If desired, glue may also be employed when attaching the heel to the shoe heel seat. This is desirable when the heel is not to be detachable. When it is desired to have the heel readily detachable from the heel seat of the shoe, the breast ll of the heel S adjacent the outerend of the lock-pin opening I0 is enlarged, or recessed, as at ll so that the outer end of the lock-pin I! may be easily grasped by means of a suitable extracting tool, as is manifest, for withdrawing the lock-pin I! from the opening I. and the openings 5 of the keepers or ears I andl.

When the heel 6 has been applied, as described, to the heel seat of the shoe, the usual breast leaf M, which is a part split from the outsole B is applied to the breast Ii of the heel 6, in the usual manner, and it conceals the outer end of the lock-pin l2 and the breast recess l3 from view. If the shoe heel is tobe detached. for

any reason, the breast leaf I 4 will first have to be removed fromthe breast of the heel. as is manifest.

Due to the fact that the trimmed heel portion of-the outsole extends beyond the juncture of the shank therewith and fills the heel seat cavity within the edge of the turned under upper, counter and lining portions of the shoe, weakness at the juncture of the heel portion of the outsole with the shank portion thereof is obviated, and the improved shoe is greatly strengthened at this point where ladies shoes, in particular are generally rather weak, and, therefore the tendency of the outsoleto be broken at the front edge of the heel is eliminated. v The heel'6 can be applied to the heel seat of a shoe by hand, or it can be applied thereto by a machine, the latter where increased production aoaaevi is required and. at less cost than .by hand and less than applying wood heels to ladies shoes by the present method.

The many advantages of the hereindescribed invention will readily suggest themselves to those 5 skilled in the art to which it appertains.

' from the spirit of the invention within the scope 15 of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A shoe construction, having, in combination, a heel seat including the trimmed heel portion of an outsole and the turned under portions of 2b 4 the counter, upper and the lining of the shoe, a

plate shaped to conform to the shape of the heel seat, means for securing said plate to the heel seat, a wooden heel having transverse recesses communicating with the base of the heel and provided with an opening directed from the breast of the heel and communicating with said heel recesses, means directed from said plate and receivable in said heel recesses, and means receivable in said heel opening passable through aligned openings in the means directed from said plate for securing the heel to the heel seat of the shoe and against displacement thereon.

2. In'combination with a shoe comprising an upper including a counter, an outsole, an insole and a shank, the outsole having its heel portion trimmed to the desiredshape and size which together with the insole and turned under edge of the counter forms the heel seat of the shoe, of a plate shaped to conform to the contour of 40 the heel seat of the shoe, fastening means integral with the plate for securing the plate in position on the heel seat of the shoe and clinchable to the insole, a heel having a pair of spaced transverse slotted recesses within the body of s the heel and open only to the heel seat surface of the heel, flat fastening means integraiwith and directed downwardly from the plate receivable in the slotted recesses of the heel, and looking means carried by the heel and insertable througha breast opening therein for interconnecting the fastening means on the plate for securely locking the heel against displacement on the heel seat of the shoe.

3. In combination with a shoe having a prepared heel seat, a plate shaped to conform tothe contour of the, heel seat and of less dimensions than the heel seat, fastening means for securing the plate to the heel seat of the shoe, spaced flat members integral with and directed downwardly from the plate, a heel having spaced slotted recesses directed into the heel from the the heel seat surface thereof to receive said flat members, and locking means carried by the heel and insertable thereinto from the breast thereof for interconnection with the spaced flat members adjacent the heel seat surface of the heel for holding the heel against displacement on the heel seat of the shoe.

4. In combination, a shoe having a prepared heel seat, a plate shaped to conform to the con-- tour of the heel seat but of less size than the heel seat, flat apertured keepers integral with and directed downwardly at a right angle to the plate, anchoring devices clinchable to a shoe in- 7 sole for securing the plate in position-on the heel seat of the shoe, a heel having spaced'slotted .recesses in the heel seat surface thereof to conform to the shape of the keepers and to receive the fiat apertured keepers, and a lock-pin insertable into the heel from the breast face thereof adjacent the upper end of the heel for interconnection with the keepers.

5. In combination with a shoe having a portion ll) of the outsole of the shoe forming a part of the heel seat of the shoe, of a dished plate peripheral- 1y shaped to conform to the outline of the heel seat of the shoe, said plate including pointed fastening means for securing the plate to the heel seat of the shoe and including fiat apertured ears directed downwardly from the plate so as to enter relative shallow slotted recesses in a heel to be applied to the plate and heel seat of the shoe, said heel having a breast opening near the upper end thereof and a lock-pin insertable into said breast opening for interconnecting the flat apertured ears of the plate receivable in the heel recesses; I

6. In combination with a shoe having a pmtion of the outsole of the shoe forminga part of the heel seat of the shoe, a longitudinally and transversely curved plate fixed to the heel seat of the shoe, a pair of spaced parallel fiat ears each. having an opening directed downwardly from the plate and said ears having their edges curved, a heel having a heel seat surface and having a pair of recesses formed in the heel seat surface of the heel shaped to receive said ears,

and a locking pin insertable into a breast opening in the heel near the upper end thereof for interconnection with said earsfor locking the heel to the shoe. 7 u

'7. In combination with a lady's shoe having a prepared heel seat which includes a trimmed 40 section of the outsole, a wooden heel having a heel seat surface to conform to the contour of the heel seat of the shoe and provided with a pair 'of transverse slotted recesses directed into the heel a short distance from the heel seat surface thereof and aplate shaped to conform to the contour of the heel seat and the contour of the heel seatsurface of the heel fixed to the heel seat of the shoe, fiat apertured ears having curved pin insertable into the heelbelow andadjacent the heel seatsurface thereof for interconnecting said ears to hold the heel against displacement on the shoe.

55 8. A heel for shoes having a dished base provided with suitably spaced parallel ,arranged elongated shallow recesses disposed transversely of the heel and directed into the heel at substantially rightangles to the plane of the shoe-- heel base, and said heel having a bore of uniform cross-sectional area throughout its length directed into the heel and intersecting the recesses above the lower edges thereof, and said bore being disposed in close proximity to the 65 base of the heel and in parallel. relation to the plane thereof.

9. In a lady's shoe construction, a shoe having a heel seat to which a heel is to be applied and said heel seat beingformed by the 'heel portion 7'0 of the insole, the turned under edge of a counter and a trimmed portion of an outsole, a concavedconvexed pronged plate secured to the heel seat of the shoe by means of the prongs of said plate penetrating the heel seat material and clinched 7 to the heel portion of the insole, a pair of spaced fiat apertured ears having curved edges formed integral with and transversely of the plate and receivable in longitudinally alined slotted recesses so shaped in the heel seat surface of the heel as to conform to the shape of said ears, said heel 5 having a breast opening interconnecting the slotted recesses in the heel, and a lock-pin insertable into the breast opening of the heel for interconnection with the apertured ears of said plate and the outer end of said pin being con- 10 cealed by the breast covering of the heel which is an integral part of the outsole of the shoe and split therefrom.

10. A plate of the class described comprising a sheet metal plate shaped to conform to' the con- 15.

and formed by a cut-out portion of the plate.

11. A plate of the class described comprising a 25 sheet metal plate shaped to conform to the contour of the heel seat surface of a shoe, said plate including a plurality of spaced pointed fastening elements directed upwardly from the edge of the plate, and said plate including a pair of down- 30 wardly directed fiat apertured ears formed integral therewith, one of said ears being at the forward edge of the plate and the other of said ears being disposed to the rear of said first ear and formed by a cut-out portion of the plate and .35

both of said ears having a curvededge.

12. In a shoe construction, the combination of a heel attachingplate having anchoring means to penetrate the heel seat material of the shoe from the lower side thereof and clinchable to the 40 heel portion of the insole of the shoe, keepers on the plate, a heel having recesses directed into the base thereof and receiving the keepers, and

a pin entering the heel adjacent the base thereof and insertable through the keepers to hold the 45 heel in a locked positionon the heel seat of the shoe.

13. In combination with a shoe having a heel seat and aheel, attaching means for securing the heel to the heel seatof the shoe, said attaching means comprising a longitudinal and transversely concaved-convexed metal plate of a' size to leave a marginal border between the edge of the plate and the edge of the heel seat when attached thereto and having prongs for pene-w trating the heel seat material and clinchable against the upper face of the insole of the shoe, the plate having a pair of closelyspaced parallel arranged ears having aligned openings for insertion into correspondingly spaced slotted recesses in a shoe heel for the attachment of the heel to the plate by means of a securing pin introduced into an opening in the heel and. the aligned openings in the ears on the plate in close proximity to the base of the slioeheel.

14. A shoe heel attaching device comprisinga metal attaching plate longitudinally and transversely curved downwardly to correspond to the heelseat of a shoe and the base of a heel adapted to be permanently and rigidly attached to the heel seat of the shoe by integral prongs directed upwardly from the edgev of the plate and to provide a marginal area-between the edge of the plate and the edge of the heel seat, a pair of the shoe heel having base recesses adapted to receive said apertured ears, and means in the form of a locking-pin introduced into a bore in the heel and arranged to extend through the apertured ears in close proximity to the base of the heel so as to cause the peripheral edge of the base of the heel to be held rigidly against the outer edge portion of the heel seat area of the shoebeyond the peripheral edge of the heel attaching plate.

15. A shoe comprising a heel seat, a heel attaching plate permanently secured to the heel seat by a plurality of marginal prongs penetrating and clinched to the insole of the shoe, said plate having apertured ears directed oppositely from the prongs, a heel having base recesses applied to the heel seat of the shoe with the ears receivable in the slotted recesses in-the heel, and a pin forced into an opening adjacent the base of the heel and insertable throughthe apertured .ears for frictionally locking the pin in position for securely holding the heel on the heel seat of the shoe and locking it against displacement thereon.

.16. In combination with a shoe having a heel seat and a heel therefor, means for permanently securing the heel to the heel seat, said means comprising a plate corresponding in shape to the heel seat and the base of the heel and of a size 10 terial and clinchable tothe inner face of the in- 1'5 .sole of the shoe, said fasteners being at the edge of the plate and arranged in three pairs, front. rear and intermediate.

AUGUST G. EICHHORN. 

